Brad Underwood: My Favorite Competitive Practice Drills for Building Toughness

with Brad Underwood
University of Illinois Head Coach;
2026 Final Four;
2x Elite Eight (2024, 2026);
2x Big Ten Tournament Champions (2021, 2024);
2023 NABC Coaches vs. Cancer Champion Award;
2022 Big Ten Regular Season Champions;
NABC Board of Directors;
Oklahoma State University Head Coach from 2016 to 2017;
Stephen F. Austin University Head Coach from 2013 to 2016;
2014 Joe B. Hall Award Recipient (Nation's top first-year coach);
3x Southland Conference Regular Season Champions (2014-2016);
3x Southland Conference Tournament Champions (2014-2016);
3x Southland Conference Coach of the Year (2014-2016)

Brad Underwood has built successful programs wherever he has coached by demanding consistent effort and creating teams that are tough, competitive, and difficult to play against. His philosophy centers on daily habits that shape culture, sharpen execution, and prepare players to compete at the highest level.

In this video, coaches get an inside look at the practice habits, drills, and teaching points that define his approach. The focus is on building a program through competition, accountability, and physical play rather than relying on scheme alone.

Coach Underwood begins by outlining how competing every day sets the foundation for success. He explains how to create a practice environment that pushes players through mistakes, builds mental toughness, and establishes clear expectations. Honest communication and demanding effort are emphasized as non-negotiable elements of winning programs.

A major portion of the video is dedicated to rebounding. Underwood breaks down multiple competitive rebounding drills including two-on-two rebounding circle blockouts, tight circle blockouts, and break-the-glass concepts. These drills teach players how to physically pursue the ball, finish possessions, and immediately transition from defense to offense.

Transition defense is another key focus. Underwood demonstrates drills that emphasize stopping the ball early, communicating quickly, and preventing easy scoring opportunities in the open court. Through dummy offense pitch-ahead concepts and advantage situations, players learn how to recover, sprint, and defend with urgency.

Coach Underwood also teaches competitive closeout and numbers advantage drills such as four-on-three closeouts and four-on-four plus one. These situations challenge players to think, communicate, and defend under pressure while reinforcing effort and decision making.

Throughout the video, Coach Underwood openly shares coaching philosophy insights that tie drills directly to team identity. Every segment reinforces the idea that toughness, communication, and competition are habits built daily through intentional practice design.

Customer Review: 5 Out of 5 Stars!
"I love the rebounding drills and the toughness Coach Underwood demands in each of his drills; he shows why his teams will not be outworked!"

73 minutes. 2026.